Segment: Roadster & Convertible
Production years: 1949, 1950, 1951
After the war, all of Europe was destroyed and Germany didn't have an industry anymore. Mercedes-Benz gathered its forces and brought back its engineers to the drawing board. They had a country to revive and a company to grow.
The design team didn't start from a blank sheet of paper. They had some of the plans used before and during WWII. In 1946 they started with a delivery van built on that chassis. There was a high demand for vans to be used or converted into ambulances and police cars. In 1949, Mercedes-Benz introduced the 170 S series at the technical export fair in Hanover. It was its first, post-war, top-class passenger vehicle, based on the same W136 chassis.
The new 170 S was based on some pre-war models, especially on the W153 model. The convertible was available as a two- or a four-seat vehicle named Cabriolet A, and Cabriolet B, respectively. The former was considered a luxury car. The flared arches, the narrow and tall engine compartment was a relic from the past but helped the German brand to move on.
Inside, the Cabriolet A featured a shelf behind the seats. It was used as an extra luggage compartment. Some were fitted with seats fit for children. The dash panel featured a radio in the middle and a glove-compartment on the passenger side. For the instrument cluster, there was a big clock on the left and a speedometer on the right, in front of the driver. In the middle, the car-maker installed the fuel-level gauge and the volt-meter. The floor-mounted gear-stick featured a round, white, gear-knob.
For the engine compartment, the 170S Cabriolet was fitted with a 1.8-liter gasoline engine. Unlike its panel-van siblings, it wasn't fitted with a diesel unit. The four-speed manual gearbox was the only choice.
ENGINE SPECS - 170 S (A) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1767 cm3 |
Power: | 38 KW @ 4000 RPM 52 HP @ 4000 RPM 51 BHP @ 4000 RPM |
Torque: | 83 lb-ft @ 1800 RPM 112 Nm @ 1800 RPM |
Fuel System: | Carburetor |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 75 mph (121 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 32 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | Manual, 4 Speed |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Drums |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 6.40-15 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 177.6 in (4511 mm) |
Width: | 66.3 in (1684 mm) |
Height: | 61.4 in (1560 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 51.8/55.9 in (1,316/1,420 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 112 in (2845 mm) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2780 lbs (1261 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3373 lbs (1530 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 24.2 mpg US (9.7 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 231 g/km |
ENGINE SPECS - 170 S (B) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1767 cm3 |
Power: | 38 KW @ 4000 RPM 52 HP @ 4000 RPM 51 BHP @ 4000 RPM |
Torque: | 83 lb-ft @ 1800 RPM 112 Nm @ 1800 RPM |
Fuel System: | Carburetor |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
---|---|
Top Speed: | 75 mph (121 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 32 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
---|---|
Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | Manual, 4 Speed |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Drums |
Rear: | Drums |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 6.40-15 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 175.4 in (4455 mm) |
Width: | 66.3 in (1684 mm) |
Height: | 63.4 in (1610 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 51.8/55.9 in (1,316/1,420 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 112 in (2845 mm) |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 2888 lbs (1310 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 3538 lbs (1605 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 24.2 mpg US (9.7 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 231 g/km |